Governor Mitch Daniels: Count Me Out

In an e-mail message to supporters early on Sunday morning, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels announced that he would be following in the wake of Haley Barbour and Mike Huckabee and would opt out of the race for the GOP presidential candidacy. AP has the scoop:

"In the end, I was able to resolve every competing consideration but one," said the former Bush White House budget chief, disclosing his decision in a middle-of-the-night e-mail to supporters. "The interests and wishes of my family is the most important consideration of all. If I have disappointed you, I will always be sorry."...

He expressed interest in getting in the race partly because it would give him a national platform to ensure the country's fiscal health would remain part of the 2012 debate.

Many establishment Republicans have been pressuring two-term Governor Daniels to run over the past months because of his solid record of fiscal conservatism and the focus he would bring to the national deficit debate, though some cultural conservatives took umbrage with his past comments that, to deal with the economic crisis, the next president would have to “call a truce on the so-called social issues.” Regardless, Daniels has put all speculation to rest and maintained that his family concerns trump his political ambition.

"Many thanks for your help and input during this period of reflection. Please stay in touch if you see ways in which an obscure Midwestern governor might make a constructive contribution to the rebuilding of our economy and our Republic."